the ingenuous Reader an inftance Ego, Coce! &c. It's plain from of what we mean, and with him hence that the Romans in his time to try further on forte words of did pronounce [Coce] [Cook] and the Roman, compar'd with the [Quoq;] [alfo] in the fame manold Hebraican Language, what if ner, or elfe the Pun had been the very name Italus. Thou'd owe loft, But now those who Proits original, not to we know not nounce the fecond [] in [Coce] what fabulus Italus,Son of no body like an [f] as the English do, knows who, but a perverfe Ma. when they don't write it with a tathefes of the Letters, reading [qu] they diftinguish it much part backward as of old, t'other more effectual, and exprefs part forward, when they were themselves more clearly, than if about changing their way of Rea- in the other way; and therefore ding; not unlike what a Learned we can't fee why that should not Man has obferv'd to have hap-be the better pronounciation. pen'd in the famuos i Pipi, Again, all Foreigners pronounce fo that Italus fhould be really the yovis, for jovis michi for miki, fame word with Latinus, of the &c. The former, because they fame family with Latii, Latium- can't form fo ftrong a found, any and the reft of that Original. But more than our Ch. really Tich, in we are infenfibly rambled from China, or th in thine, for which Dialects to Etymologies, to Coun- reafon they confound the F contries very near each other, and its fonant with a r, melting it in the time to return to the question be- next Letter whereas we give both fore us. To decide which, we their proper founds, fufficiently diought to fix the Notion of a right, ftinct from each other. Then for beft, or trueft Pronounciation of michi, nicbil, Sc. they are there a Language, which is according ffronger than Truth and Nature, to the manner of the chief City for H has of old been accounted or Court,when the Empire is moft rather a breath than a letter; and Flourishing, and both Language accordingly words are fometimes and Pronounciation more refin'd writ without it (Nii, and others) Could we therefore know the whereas they make it a double manner of Pronounciation among Letter, and a very ftrong one. If the Romans in the time of Au we differ then in our Pronounci guftus, one would think the buation from the French, Italian, &c. finefs would be decided. Tho we fee not, but it may be with yet granting we did know it, and' Reafon, as the Germans and Dutch Thou'd be certain fome words were may follom 'em without Reafon, fo pronounc'd in that Age,as not to only becaufe they are asham'd of Answer the true ends of Speech, being in the right, and out of a which is to convey diftinct noti- vicious imitation. As to what the ons of things, it fhould feem but Querift afferts, that we give the reafonable, that these might be Vowels the fame found in the Laa better and more natural way of tin Languago that they have in Pronouncing than was then in our own, we believe he may be Fashion. An inftance will explain miftaken. Our Language is rich what we mean, and we chufe to in Sound as well as words, there give one in the famous Pun of Tully, being few, if any of either, but we can exprefs, though feveral of one another; and the Eye takes ours that are almoft unconquer- 'em only in grofs and confus'd, able to any but a Native. We whence it cannot, without abunhave all the founds of Vowels in dance of Difficulty, and in fome other Languages in different cafes, perhaps, not at all, Animadwords of our own, and our Latın vert on the Motion of the different and English Pronouncication of parts of the Body fo fwiftly mov'd,. the fame word, and fame Vowel nor confequently, diftinctly per are often different. Nay, fome- ceive any fuch motion. On the times our English Pronounciation contrary, in a very flow motion is like the Foreigners Latin, and the different pofiture of the Rays their Latin like our English. We on their paffage from one Point to Pronounce the a in Salt, broad and another. is fo fmall, that the obdeep enough, as the Foreigners ject appears to be as it was at first, would have us, but then the fame till it has paft over feveral of those a in the Latin word Sal, we give Points, when we can perceive that a clearer, fharper found, and we it has actually mov'd, though think with very good Reafon, for not difcover any fuch thing during thereby we diftinguish it in our the Motion: To which this may Pronounciation from Sol, which be added, That 'tis, perhaps, for otherwife we could not fo well do. want of finer Organs, we many For the inconvenience this is to times can't perceive Motion, where ftrangers, we can't help it, if we know well enough that it really they confound those words which is. we diftinguith, and han't yet learnt all their Letters, or can't Pronounce 'em. However, this is eafily remedied, fince a few days, converfation will bring us, A. The Scripture tells us Nito pronounce like them, though neveb was an exceeding great Cifcarce all their Life time will be fufty, of 3 days Journey. We fupficient to teach them to Pronounce pofe not in Length, but Circumlike us, our way being more like the Strength and Majefty of the old Romans than that foft and effeminate turn which the Mo dern Italians have given, both to their Language and Pronouncia tion. Q How many times bigger was Nineveh than London, Weftmin fter and Suburbs ? ference. Strabo lays 'twas 20 miles long; Sir william Petyt afferts, that a Wall of 20 miles would encompafs all London, Westminster and Suburbs, down to Blackwall, and take in befides many a thoufand Acres of Ground; Confequently Nineveh mult have been about times, at leaft, as big as this C Q. Whente ist that the Eye can neither perceive the fwiftefty, though very probably the nor the floweft Motion. largelt at this prefent in the whole World. A. Because one's too fwift, and the other too flow: But to An fwer more Philofophically, in what's very fwift, the Rays, as it were, trip up one anothers' Heels, they are left and confouted in would foon be over-ftockt with than to the whole Body of the Jews one of 'em. Q. Whether, in your Opinion, the third part of Mankind live to be 50 years old? but am. not unacquainted wit what they particularly beld, there fore defire the Favour of you t give me as full an account of ther and their Opinions, as your ow leifure and your Paper will as mit ? 4. No, nor, we are apt to think, the tenth part neither,tho' we have made this Obfervation in A. The three most confiderabl bealthy places, among labouring of all the Sects that were among people: Whereas populous Cities, the Jews when Chrift was bor where many die Children, or Lux-were the Pharifees, Sadducees an ury, kills fo many more,) to fay nothing of what fall by Justice) per haps the 20th part may hardly live to lee Fifty. Q. What's the meaning of St. Paul's being a Night and a Day in the deep, and where fhall we find that he was thrice Shipwrackt, as be fays of bimfelf, 2 Cor. 11. 25. Effeans. Perhaps the Pharifet might have their Name as Expla ners and Interpreters of the Lav which was a chief part of the work, and for which they wer in great eftimation amongst th Jews; or rather from Separatio (the moft natural import of th word) as Epiphanius lays, fo cal led because exempted from other A. The meaning of his being a in their extraordinary pretences Night and Day in the Deep, is Piety; the Jews defcribe a Pha plain enough,that on a Shipwrack, rifee, as one that feparates him he fo long remain'd in the Sea, on felf from all Uncleanness, unclea a Board, Raft, or fome fuch thing, Meats, and from the People of th before he was taken up, or got to Earth, who accurately observe no Land. For his being Thrice Ship- the difference of Meats. Pharifee wrackt, it feems not a very fenfi in the Talmud denotes a pious an ble Question, Where fhould we holy Man. (This Sect was fup find it?When we find it here in the pofed to arife not long after the very Text you mention; and what Maccabees) Yet under the pre need it be twice Recorded? St. tence of Religion, they were Ma Luke not taking particular notice licious, Covetous, great Oppref of all the Apostles Actions, any fors, Mercilefs Dealers, Proud more than he, or St. John, or the Scornful, and indeed guilty of other two Evangelifts, of thofe of moft Immoralities; they held the our Saviour. Oral Law of infinite greater moQ. I have had a few difficulties ment than the written Word; concerning fome Opinions of the that the Traditions of their Fore Jews that I have met with, which fathers were above all things to feem to disagree with the Bible,& be embraced, the ftrict obfervance find there were thefe feveralSects of which, wou'd entitle a Man amongst them in the time of our to Eternal Life; that the Souls of Saviour, as the Pharifees,Sadducees, Men were Immortal, and had their Effeans, Herodians, Samaritans, Dooms awarded in the SubterKarreans and Zealots, and I attri- raneous Regions; that there is bute them to fome of these, rather a Metempsychosis of pious Souls out -] out of one Body into another; that things come to pals by fate and an inevitable neceffity, and yet that Mans Will is free, that by this means Men might be rewarded and punished according to their Works. The Sadducees were as oppofite to the firft in their Temper as Principles; Epiphanius thinks they were fo called from Juftice, as pretending to be Juft and Righ teous, but this Character agrees not with their Lives. They are generally thought to have had the Name from Shadock the Scholar of Antigonus Sochaus, about the Year 3720. 384 Years before Chrift; they pafs by the Writers of their own Nation, for impious Men, of very loose and debauched Manners; the natural confequence of their Principles, for they held the Soul Mortal; the reafon of hich defperate Opinion fuppo fed to have been their mistaking Antigonus, who preft his Scholars not to be mercenary, but to ferve God for himself, without the expectation of reward; this Sadock, and Baithos, two of his Difciples mifunderstood, and thought he denyed any further Rewards, and confequently a Refurrection; and by the fame reafon admitted no Spiritual Subftances; they held no Providence, but that God Almighty is fo abfolutely placed above the World, that he neither regarded the Vice nor Vertue acted in it. Thefe Opinions made them bated by the People, they were filed by them Hereticks, Infidels, Epicureans, no Name being thought bad enough for them. They abfolutely rejected the Traditions of the Pharifees, and affirmed men were to keep to the - Letter of the Law: Jofephus lays they were the feweft of all Sects, but generally of the better Rank and Quality; therefore being unwilling to be disturbed in their Eafe and Luxury, they were the moft fevere against Tumults and Seditions, for which they cou'd not be blamed, having all their expectation and happiness in this Life. The Effeans began about the time of the Maccabees, when the perfecution of Antiochus enforced the Jews to the Woods and Mountains: And tho' this ftorm blew over in fome time, yet those Men were so pleased with their retreat, that they continued and combined into Religious Societies, living a folitary and contemplative Life in great Numbers, there being ufually about 400 of them, according to both Philo and JoSephus. Pliny calls them a folita ry Generation, remarkable above all others, in living without the Embraces of Women, without Money, Converfing with Woods and Palm trees, their number encreafed as faft as any dyed, for Men being wearied with an un profperous fortune, flockt to 'em from all quarters. They paid a Reverence to the Temple by fending Gifts and Prefents thither, but worshipped God at home, ufing their own Rites and Ceremonies. Every Seventh day they publickly met in their Synagogues, where the younger fitting at the Feet of the Elder, one reads fome Portions out of a Book, which another well skilled in the Principles of their Sect, expoun ded to the reit, (but very obfcurely, like the Philofophy of the Ancients) instructing them in L 2 Piety, Effean Inftitution) being the Commandments and Dourines of men; which things have indeed a fhew of Wisdom, in Will-Worhip, and Humility, and neglect nour to the fatisfying the flesh. The Herodians were fuppofed either a part of Herods Guard, or a party that efpoufed his Intereft; that were particularly active in preffing Men to pay Tribute. In matters of opinion they seemed to St. Matthew calls the Leaven of the Sadducees St. Mark calls the Leaven of Herod. Piety, all the Duties to God, others, and themselves. They industriously cultivated their Ground, and lived on the Fruits of it, had all in common, there being neither rich or poor amongfting of the Body, not in any Hothem. Their Manners were innocent, being exact Obfervers of Juftice, beyond the Practice of other men. Its very probable the reason why we have no mention made of 'em in the Gofpel,is because they living remote from others, never concerr.ed them-fide with the Sudducees, for what felves with the Actions of Chrift or his Apoftles; but out of a pretended Veneration for Wisdom and Vertue, they neglected all TheSamaritans were thePofteCare of the Body, renounced con- rity of thofe that fucceeded the jugal Embraces, abftained from ten Tribes, a mixture of Jews Meats and Drinks, fome not eat and Gentiles, they held nothing ing for three, others five or fix but the Pentateuch to be the Word days together, thinking it unbe- of God, that Mount Gerazim was coming Men of fuch a Philofophi- the true place of worship, that cal Genius to spend any time up- they were the Defcendants of Joon the Neceffities of the Body. seph, and heirs of the Aaronical Their way they called Worship, Priefthood, that no Correfponand their Rules Doctrines of Wifdence was to be had with ftrangers, dom, their Contemplations were or any unclean thing touched. fublime and fpeculative, dealing much in the Names and Myfteries of Angels; their carriage bore a great fhew of Modefty and Humihity. Therefore 'tis not unlikely they were the Perfons chiefly defigned (tho' others that held the fame Principles not excluded) by St. Paul, when he charged the Co-infomuch as they admit not the loffians to let no man beguile thtm Hebrew Points, thinking them of their reward in a volumary hu- part of the Traditionary Law, for mility and worshipping of Angels, which they are hated by the reft intruding into thofe things which of the Jews. There is to thi be has not feen, vainly puft up by day great numbers of 'em at Con bis flefly Mind, that being deadftantinople and other places. to the rudiments of the World, they fou'd no longer be fubject to thefe Dogmate or Ordinances, fuch as touch not, tafte not, han dle not (the main principles of the The Karreans were a Branch of the Sadducees, but afterwards rejected their Opinions. They are the true Textualifts, adhering only to the writings of Mofes, and the Prophets, expounding the Scriptures by it felf, difowning the abfurd Gloffes of the Talmud, The Zealots often mentioned by Jofephus, were an infolent and ungovernable fort of Men; who under a pretence of Zeal for God committed the greatest Out-rages: Q. By S |